97badass

iTrader: (8)

Disclaimer: I'm not bashing anyone or anything here and this probably isn't the right section...

Cons: marks from the tubing bender
Some weld splatter
Gasket surface isn't smooth gouges in them
Rust brand new in box had rust on them?!?!?
And wont clear my head studs
Retarded ball style clamp
Pros:
Cheap
Ceramic coated
Y included
Gaskets included
Shiny

Is it normal to have the cons I listed besides the ball style connection? My lpp headers I had for the lt1 had no marks or gouges or rust rust can be excluded from the comparison since they were stainless. I'm a little irate about the quality but I can live with it.

Bramlok

iTrader: (7)

What kind of head studs do you have? I'm sure they were designed for use with stock head bolts and never taken into consideration the use of head studs. They are also a cheap budget header so you get what you pay for. A lot of guys have them and the reviews always seem to be good. Aside from the head stud issue, none of the others problems listed should cause any lack of performance.

There are also a lot of guys running head studs with bigger 1 7/8 headers, so I don't know if yours is a header or head stud issue. Or maybe a combination of both.

Where did you buy them from? Maybe you can contact them and exchange for another set?

97badass

iTrader: (8)

It's the mounting flange hitting the studs.

inssanity21

iTrader: (16)

myne are ceramic coated and had no defects what so ever... you could just have gotten a set that had been sitting around in a storage area in damp conditions and gotten banged up a little

stunna p

iTrader: (4)

I have the non coated bbk lt"s. and there awsome in my opinion.
id buy them again in a heart beat.

loudblack97z71

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like you got a bad set like mentioned above. I recently bought BBK's stainless longtubes ceramic coated and did not have any of the defects you mentioned. They fit great, and perform great, I actually preferred the 2.5" into 3" y-pipe on my mild build because I kept my low rpm torque and throttle response.

2nd Gen Fl 'bird

iTrader: (13)

I don't have long tubes. I have the shorties. Got them for almost nothing is why I bought them and I'm with the OP. The quality of the welds and how they are fabricated isn't the best. I believe these are around 300.00 new and can't believe they are that much. Like stated earlier, you get what you pay for.

97badass

iTrader: (8)

Drivers side is mint the passenger side is the one with the tool marks from the bender...

Latch

iTrader: (8)

I thought someone would have mentioned this already... don't use the cheap gaskets that come with the headers! They will blow out in no time. Always use GM gaskets. Hell I would reuse my stock gaskets before using those paper ones.

loudblack97z71

iTrader: (2)

Maybe they updated their kit, I paid 450 for my LT's and Y-pipe came with gaskets, (not paper) some kind of composite. Brand new on Ebay, they got shipped directly from BBK. I haven't had any problems with the gaskets.

LS-ONE_DAY

You probably got graphite gaskets. ARH puts graphite gaskets in their kits. From what I've heard the ARH ones are good to use but I spent the extra $25 for a pair of GM MLS ones.

usnfenix

iTrader: (11)

i had the bbk's on my 01 ss b4 i sold it and the install was easy as hell. plus i had none of the cons you had. fitment and clearance was great and no rust or sloppy welds. they are ceramic yes but they discolor and turn purpleish quite quickly. but then again i didnt care i wasnt going to pay extra couple hundred bucks for stainless headers so my engine could look "pretty"

why87

I've got bbk longtubes and y (ceramic coated). None of those problems.